Rediscover Sonoma County’s Beauty & Wonders

Rediscovering Sonoma County This Spring

We live in a beautiful county like none other in the United States! Living here we tend to take a lot of the beauty and attractions we have close by for granted. Spring is a wonderful time to rediscover some of the places only long-term locals know about. The days will be getting warmer, but many of these activities are fun on one of the cooler Sonoma County days also.

We will take you through great backroad drives, historical areas, the best beaches, some of the best places to see Sonoma County wildflowers in their splendor, great hikes, and so much more. With gas prices high, it’s a great time to see why Sonoma County is one of the top destinations for travelers worldwide. Most of the places on our list are better to visit on a weekday to avoid crowds, but are just as good on weekends realizing there will just be a few more people and maybe less parking.

Hunting Wildflowers in Sonoma County

There are many places to see wildflowers all over Sonoma County, from Bennett Valley to the Sonoma Coast. Wildflowers make great pressing for anything from bookmarks to beautiful framed collages while making for the best photography. The Sonoma coast this time of year is plentiful with wildflowers. Along the coast, you will see Pride of Madera, California poppies, red valerian in Jenner, and blue and purple lupine from Bodega Bay to Gualala. One of the best roads to see an amazing selection of wildflowers is Tin Barn Road which follows the coast ridge above the Pacific Ocean between Fort Ross and Stewarts Point. Thee are many great places to pull aside and have a picnic lunch also after visiting a few coast wineries.

Also, as you go up the coast you will see yellow lupine, which is amazing when it is growing next to purple lupine, it makes for such a great photo. Some top wildflower walks in Sonoma County, are the Stillwater Cove which has striped coral root, trillium, redwood violets, and thimbleberries. Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen has poppies and so many mushrooms this time of year. The beaches between Bodega Bay and Jenner are abounding with wildflowers this time of year and many have great walks, such as the beach at Goat Rock. Taylor Mountain Regional Park will give you views of all of Sonoma County and the coast range, spectacular any time of day and so many wildflowers this time of year. We offer you this Sonoma County Wildflower Guide provided by Sonoma Land Trust. Be sure to check out Jenner Headlands for amazing wildflowers and the famous Oreo cows, so many different trails, and spectacular views of the ocean.

Buddhist Monasteries

The Sonoma County coast is home to a few Busshis monasteries. Some are open to the public with events and retreats and others are private and open sometimes once a year. On your way to Tim Barn Road, on Fort Ross Road is the Ratna Ling Retreat Center and home to Dharma Publishing. This retreat center is open to the public for personal retreats, group retreats, and events. The Buddhist monastery not many people know of is Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center on Tin Barn Road. Odiyan covers a vast number of acres and has a temple with a golden roof. They host workshops, you may volunteer, and even the Dali Lama has visited Odiyan beautiful location. From their website: “Odiyan’s powerful, invisible energy is our gift to America. It is our way of introducing the Dharma to the West — through the creation of a Mandala of sacred symbols that embody the path of transformation.” 

Sonoma County Historical Places

We have so many historical places of interest in Sonoma County that books have been written about them, but we will give you a few of our favorites to visit this spring. Most of Sonoma County was inhabited thousands of years ago by Pomo, Wappo, and Miwok tribes, and arrowheads and pumice bowls are still found on the coast. There is nearly a historical schoolhouse in every town, from the Austin Creek School in Cazadero to the Jenner Schoolhouse in Jenner, Bodega School in Valley Ford to the Watson School that also has remnants of the running fence on the property in Valley Ford.

If you enjoy old barns, we still have a couple of amazing round barns in Sonoma County. The DeTurk Round Barn in Santa Rosa, and the Mount Weske Stables in Windsor. Old historical barns include Landmark’s Hop Kiln buildings in Healdsburg, the stone-built Jack London State Park Barns, and the Martinelli Winery Hop Barn on River Road.

Fort Ross north of Jenner is steeped in history and has amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Towards the east Sonoma Plaza has so many historical buildings all within walking distance of the Plaza that you can make a day of it. Likewise, Healdsburg’s Plaza has so many historical buildings and churches all within walking distance of the Plaza that it’s a full day once you stop for lunch and taste some wine on the Plaza.

The Potter Schoolhouse which was featured in the “The Birds” I listed aside from schoolhouses because it has such historical significance. Also. if you are lucky, once in a while the owners of the Potter School throw a fundraiser at Halloween that is amazing and you get to see the insides of the Potter Schoolhouse. The General M.G. Vallejo home in Sonoma is right off the Plaza and is beautifully restored. The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in Santa Rosa has amazing brick structures, greenhouses, and a stately home that is wonderful to tour. Sonoma County also has many historical churches, but one of the smallest and sweetest is in the town of Bodega next to the Potter Schoolhouse, and is St. Teresa of Avila Church. If you wind your way up the coast to Sea Ranch be sure to go into the Sea Ranch Chapel during the day, the colors and the story behind the building of the chapel are touching.

Sonoma County Has the Best Beaches

If you have ever wanted to learn how to boogie board or surf, Dillion Beach is one of the easiest to learn at. If you want a workout for the day, go to Bodega Dunes Beach and hike the dunes. So, here are some more of the best beaches we have found for a quick day trip, Gualala Point Regional Park where dogs are allowed on leash, Stengel Beach at Sea Ranch, parking is free and dogs are allowed on leash, Stillwater Cove Beach north of Jenner and dogs are allowed on leash, Sandy Cove by Fort Ross, great beach and only locals know about it and dogs are allowed on leash, Goat Rock Beach does not allow dogs because of the seals, Salmon Creek Beach is wonderful with lots of places to walk and boogie board, surf, and build structures from driftwood, but no dogs, and Doran Beach allows dogs on leash and is swimmer-friendly. Lots of great choices and fun to have any time of the year, but especially in the spring.

Sonoma County Hikes with Great Views

Last but not least some great hikes with amazing views that will take your breath away:

1. Kortum Trail by Wright Beach
2. Sea to Sky Trail in Jenner Headlands
3. Armstrong Redwoods
4. Mount Saint Helena Summit Trail in Napa
5. Salt Point Trail by Gerstle Cove
6. Sonoma Overlook Trail in Sonoma
7. Panorama Trail in Petaluma
8. Bummer Peak Trail by Lake Sonoma
9. Vista Trail Loop in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

We are sharing one of our favorites that hardly anyone knows about in Sonoma County, the Secret Labyrinth near Shell Beach between the town of Bodega Bay and Jenner is worth looking for and is off Kortum trail just north of Shell Beach between the first fence and the first boardwalk about 100 feet inland. This labyrinth has grown organically for years with many visitors making contributions to the path. Definitely, a place to put on your list to see this spring or summer to beat the heat inland.

We hope we have given you a new appreciation for the beautiful place we all call home. Enjoy your outings, see them with new eyes, and take in the moment. We would love to take house cleaning off your to-do list, be sure to give us a call at 707-827-3316 or fill out our FREE ESTIMATE form.